Polished 1100 Swingarm

[renobruce]

Well, I did my best at polishing up a swingarm. Wow, lots of work! The casting on these things is a bit rough! Pretty hard to get a smooth surface, except for the sides. I used a D/A sander with 320 grit wet/dry paper where I could. Then progressed up to 2000 grit by hand, then polished. I still need to clean up a few nicks and crannys, but it's all but done! Looks pretty good, I think. I was going to go with a black 1100 swingarm on my Skunk and put this one on my project, but I think I'll use this one on the Skunk. :-D

[steve murdoch]

Absolutely stunning!
It will look great with the chrome pipe.

[kichigai]

Wow, that looks great! Now you did it! Proceed now with the rest of your bike to make it match the swingarm. Very Impressive!

[renobruce]

Proceed now with the rest of your bike to make it match the swingarm.

I already did! It's for this one:




:-D

[Nessism]

Nice job Bruce. Question: do you find it necessary to go all the way to 2000 grit sandpaper before polishing? I ask because I just cleaned up a rear diff and stoped at 600 grit before hitting it with Mothers polish - the finish is very bright (too much so to match the stock look). Just wondering...

[renobruce]

Nice job Bruce. Question: do you find it necessary to go all the way to 2000 grit sandpaper before polishing? I ask because I just cleaned up a rear diff and stopped at 600 grit before hitting it with Mothers polish - the finish is very bright (too much so to match the stock look). Just wondering...

You can get good results stopping at 600 or 800. I find going to the super fine grit and wet sanding eliminates all the super fine scratches you can sometimes see, and it also makes the polishing go quicker.

[CraigS]

Very nice! I should have one of those in my hands within the next two weeks. I hope I can get it to look half as good as yours does.

[Tom MLC]

Well, I did my best at polishing up a swingarm. Wow, lots of work! The casting on these things is a bit rough! Pretty hard to get a smooth surface, except for the sides. I used a D/A sander with 320 grit wet/dry paper where I could. Then progressed up to 2000 grit by hand, then polished. I still need to clean up a few nicks and crannys, but it's all but done! Looks pretty good, I think. I was going to go with a black 1100 swingarm on my Skunk and put this one on my project, but I think I'll use this one on the Skunk. :-D

Geez buddy, you can shave in that reflection! =D>

[andrewclaycomb]

I am blown away with how good your bikes look. I don't understand how you have both pods and a 4-1 and have little to no color on your pipes. Did you tune with one pipe and then get another after it was dialed in right?

My pipes are all sorts of shades of gold and blue from countless attempts at tuning.

[Tom MLC]

I am blown away with how good your bikes look. I don't understand how you have both pods and a 4-1 and have little to no color on your pipes.

That's easy. He doesn't ride 'em. Just spends his days polishing & buffing, buffing & polishing.

[andrewclaycomb]

That's easy. He doesn't ride 'em. Just spends his days polishing & buffing, buffing & polishing.

You write this implying your bikes look worse.

[renobruce]

I am blown away with how good your bikes look. I don't understand how you have both pods and a 4-1 and have little to no color on your pipes. Did you tune with one pipe and then get another after it was dialed in right?

My pipes are all sorts of shades of gold and blue from countless attempts at tuning.

I had quality advice from KeithKrause, which put me right about where I needed to be on the jetting. A few minor tweaks and it was dialed in. I run the Skunk a tad rich since I'm at a high altitude. I can then go down towards sea level and not worry about running too lean.

The pipe you see in the pic is a V&H. Even though I'm a tad rich, it will still get some gold on the first 6 inches or so. I think it is because V&H's quality as gone down over the years. I use Blue Job cleaner on it and it makes it look new again. But I have sold the pipe you see on the bike to another GSR member, and am about to install a new chrome Jardine 4-1. That pipe is being coated inside with Blue Shield pipe coating. Hopefully it will eliminate any blueing.

[Agemax]

Nice job Bruce. Question: do you find it necessary to go all the way to 2000 grit sandpaper before polishing? I ask because I just cleaned up a rear diff and stoped at 600 grit before hitting it with Mothers polish - the finish is very bright (too much so to match the stock look). Just wondering...

the finer grade paper you use the easier it is to polish and the better the finish. if you finish at 600 grit it may look nice till you get it in the wrong light, then you will see the surface scratched to buggery. all my ally is hand polished but rubbed down to 1200 grit first (wet)and what ever angle or light the surface is glass like.

[posplayr]

Looks Nice Reno

Only problem is now you have given me something else to do now.......
Maybe I'll just paint it clear???8-[

OK so where do I get 2000 grit.....................

Pospalyr

[8trackmind]

Well, I did my best at polishing up a swingarm.

Bruce, you need to stop one-upping me. I'm simply running out of time (and $$$) keeping up with you and all your mods. Really, you should spend more time with the wife and kids. Maybe take up boating, rebuilding clocks or something. Anything. For the love of Pete, just stop improving the skunk. You're killing me over here. :-|